Farmers & Ranchers
Farmers & Ranchers
Career Overview
Farmers and ranchers manage farms and agricultural operations that produce crops, livestock, dairy products, and other agricultural goods. They plan and oversee planting, harvesting, animal care, equipment use, finances, marketing, and day-to-day farm operations. Modern farmers and ranchers also use technology and sustainable practices to improve productivity and manage soil, water, and other resources.
Education
A high school diploma is a common starting point, followed by extensive hands-on farming experience. College diplomas or university degrees in agricultural management, crop production, livestock production, agribusiness, or a related field can provide valuable preparation. Requirements vary depending on the type and size of the operation.
Future Outlook
Agriculture will remain essential as the world continues to need food, livestock products, and other agricultural resources. Farmers and ranchers are increasingly using technology, data, automation, precision agriculture, and sustainable practices to improve productivity and manage natural resources. Opportunities will vary by region and farming type, but agriculture will continue to offer careers for people interested in working with land, animals, technology, business, and the environment.
Work Environment
Farmers and ranchers primarily work outdoors and may work in fields, pastures, barns, greenhouses, and other agricultural settings. The work can be physically demanding and may involve long or irregular hours, particularly during planting and harvesting seasons. Farm operators also spend time managing finances, purchasing supplies, maintaining equipment, supervising workers, and planning production.
Recommended High School Courses
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Math
- Computer Applications
- Agricultural Business
- Agricultural Science
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
- Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
- Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Manage agricultural or forestry operations.
- Evaluate quality of materials or products.
- Monitor organizational compliance with regulations.
- Maintain operational records.
- Maintain personnel records.
- Inspect condition or functioning of facilities or equipment.
- Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.
- Negotiate contracts for transportation, distribution, or logistics services.
- Negotiate sales or lease agreements for products or services.
- Monitor facilities or operational systems.
- Monitor resources.
- Perform manual service or maintenance tasks.
- Analyze data to determine project feasibility.
- Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
- Prepare operational budgets.
- Conduct employee training programs.
- Train employees on environmental awareness, conservation, or safety topics.
- Hire personnel.
- Supervise employees.
- Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.
- Direct facility maintenance or repair activities.
- Perform manual agricultural, aquacultural, or horticultural tasks.
- Manage construction activities.
- Implement organizational process or policy changes.
Schools
Auburn University
Colby Community College
College Of The Atlantic
Colorado State University...
Dickinson State Universit...
Eastern Oregon University
Iowa State University
Missisippi State Universi...
North Carolina State Univ...
Oklahoma State University
Suny At Cobleskill
Suny College Of Agricultu...
University Of California-...
University Of Georgia
University Of Illinois At...
University Of Minnesota-...
University Of New Hampshi...
University Of Wisconsin-...
Virginia Tech
Warner University
Washington State Universi...
West Texas A & M Universi...
Western Kentucky Universi...
Durham College- Whitby...
Lakeland College- Verm...
Olds College- Main Cam...
Red Deer College- Main...
Trent University- Pete...
University Of Alberta
University Of British...
University Of Lethbrid...
University Of Manitoba
University Of Saskatch...
Potential Scholarships
5 Strong Scholarship
Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...
Curt Pozan Trades Scholar...
Approx Salary Expectation
Low End:
$52,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$88,000.00 /yr
High End:
$157,000.00 /yr
Related Careers
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.